Holy Days of Obligation

Catholic Church Days of Obligation

In the Catholic Church, Holy Days of Obligation are the days on which the
faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. They have also abstain from
unnecessary works, "which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy
proper to the Lord’s day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body."
(Canon 1247 of the Code of Canon Law).

The list of Days of Obligation includes all Sundays in all
countries. Some feasts, e.g. Easter, are always celebrated on Sundays,
so they are always obligatory. The number of additional Days of
Obligation varies between countries, from 1 in Hong-Kong to 10 in Vatican.

Holy Days of Obligation in the 2025 Year

All the Days of Obligation observed in the United States are listed below.

Date

Holiday name

Is obligatory in 2025?

Time left

All Sundays are obligatory for the faithful to participate in the Mass

Notes

The number of Days of Obligation vary from year to year,
because the precept to attend Mass is lifted (abrogated) if any of the
following days:

1 January (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God),

15 August (Feast of the Assumption),

1 November (Solemnity of All Saints)

falls on a Saturday or on a Monday. The faithful, however, are encouraged to attend
Mass on those days.
This was decided by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of
the United States of America on December 13, 1991 (Canon 1246)
and is effective as of January 1, 1993.

Ascension Thursday is a Holy Day of Obligation in the entirety of the
following States: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska.

In Hawaii since 1992 the only observed Days of Holy Obligation (except Sundays) are Feast of the
Immaculate Conception and Christmas.

Special Dates of Prayer

Apart from days of obligation in the Catholic Church there are also
often designated additional — Special Days of Prayer, in which the
faithful pray for some important intentions chosen by the Church. In those days
the faithful are usually not obliged to attend Mass, but they are asked to
observe these days in their devotions or private prayer. For example in 2016 there
are few Days of Prayer designated for the Archdiocese of San Francisco:

January 1 — Day of Prayer for World Peace (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God),

February 14 — Day of Prayer for the General Needs of Humankind (First Sunday of Lent)

September 5 — Day of Prayer for Human Rights and Labor (Labor Day)

November 24 — Day of Prayer for the Fruits of the Earth (Thanksgiving Day)